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FluWatchers is an online health surveillance system

FluWatchers is an online health surveillance system that helps monitor the spread of flu-like illness across Canada. FluWatchers relies on Canadians to volunteer 15 seconds of their time each week to answer 2 questions about their health. A few more questions may appear depending on your answers to the first 2 questions.

We want to get thousands of FluWatchers across Canada reporting each week. This will help us create a tool that shows Canadians where the flu is and provide an early warning of potential outbreaks.

You can volunteer to be a FluWatcher

During flu season, from October to May, you will get a weekly e-mail. It will ask you 2 questions to find out if you had a cough or fever.

It's fast and simple. You only need 15 seconds a week and your answers are anonymous. We follow the rules of the Privacy Act with respect to the information that we collect from you.

Participating each week is important

The FluWatchers program gathers data on healthy participants as well as those experiencing the flu. It is important that you try to answer the questionnaire each week whether you are healthy or sick. That will allow us to calculate more accurate flu rates each week.

The FluWatchers program relies on Canadians to voluntarily report each week. As the number of participants increase, more accurate flu rates in your area can be calculated. Invite your friends, family and colleagues to join.